More high-profile fighters have been added to the night
Abu Dhabi’s newest combat sports fixture is shaping up to be a seriously big one, with Umar Nurmagomedov, Urijah Faber and Kyle Snyder among the latest names added to the RAF Abu Dhabi card.
Real American Freestyle (RAF) will make its Middle East debut at Etihad Arena on Yas Island on Saturday, 14 November, as part of a new five-year partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the UAE Wrestling Federation.
UFC star Khamzat Chimaev will headline the night, taking on American Colby Covington for the RAF Cruiserweight Crossover title.
Now, several more matchups have been revealed.
UFC bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov will make his RAF debut against MMA veteran Urijah Faber, bringing his wrestling and grappling pedigree to the contest. The Dagestan native, a member of the famous Nurmagomedov family, has seven submission victories on his MMA record.
Waiting for him will be Faber, better known as ‘The California Kid’. The former MMA champion and Team Alpha Male founder is returning for his third RAF appearance.
There will also be a title fight involving Kyle Snyder, the reigning RAF Light Heavyweight Champion. The Olympic and world wrestling champion will take on Shamil Erdogan, a Dagestan-born Turkish wrestler making his RAF debut.
Snyder has been on a serious run since joining the league, defeating four fellow Olympic medallists over the past six months on his way to winning and defending the RAF Light Heavyweight title.
The growing line-up adds even more star power to an event that already features some of wrestling’s biggest names.
Arman Tsarukyan, Henry Cejudo, Jordan Burroughs and Abdulrashid Sadulaev are also confirmed to compete, with further matchups expected to be announced ahead of the event.
Tickets are now on sale exclusively through Etihad Arena.
The Abu Dhabi event marks RAF’s first appearance in the Middle East and its third international event, following shows in Tbilisi and Moscow.
For Abu Dhabi, it adds another heavyweight name to an increasingly busy combat sports calendar – and this is only the beginning of RAF’s five-year run in the capital.
So, mark 14 November in the diary. Abu Dhabi is about to get very acquainted with RAF.
Additional matchups, venue information, tickets, event-week programming and broadcast details will be announced in the coming weeks.
14 November, Etihad Arena, Yas Island. For further information, visit etihadarea.ae
